Holding tray for dispensing rollable containers from end opening container cartons

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is described for supporting a carton having cylindrical or other rollable containers therein and an end discharge opening for dispensing the containers. The apparatus is configured to be useful for holding a dispensing carton between shelves in a refrigerator. The apparatus includes an elongated tray body having marginal walls that form a dam to retain liquids. The top edges of the marginal walls define an upwardly open carton receptacle. An inclined support surface is disposed below the top edges and above the bottom wall to receive and support a carton at an inclined angle. One or more wells are provided to form a catch basin to retain liquids and position the carton above the liquids to prevent weakening of the carton.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to trays for holding and dispensingrollable containers, such as beverage cans, from end opening cartons.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beverages are supplied in a variety of carton configurations for storageand shipping. Some cartons are provided with removable end parts thatallow beverage or other containers to be removed through an end opening.The removable end part may be perforated to facilitate removal.

After the removable end part has been removed, the carton converts froma fully enclosed carton to a container dispensing carton. Such an enddispensing carton typically uses a cylindrical can or other rollablecontainer which facilitates the ability of individual successivecontainers to be removed.

A problem with the end dispensing cartons is that the cartons may becomedistorted and allow the containers to freely roll from the carton. Thisis particularly disadvantageous when the carton has been placed into arefrigerator and the containers become free to roll from the carton whenthe refrigerator door is opened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below withreference to the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a beverage carton tray according tothe invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an exemplary beverage carton with atear away end closure shown on the carton and diagrammatically removedtherefrom.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary rollable container.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation of a refrigerator with theapparatus and a carton positioned between spaced shelves.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along line5-5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view similar to FIG. 5 also showing acarton mounted on the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Introductory Note

The readers of this document should understand that the embodimentsdescribed herein may rely on terminology used in any section of thisdocument and other terms readily apparent from the drawings and languagecommon therefor. This document is premised upon using one or more termswith one embodiment that will in general apply to other embodiments forsimilar structures, functions, features and aspects of the invention.Wording used in the claims as filed is also descriptive of theinvention. Terminology used with one, some or all embodiments may beused for describing and defining the technology and exclusive rightsassociated herewith.

General Configuration

A preferred apparatus according to the invention is generally identifiedby numeral 10 in the drawings. Apparatus 10 is designed to receive andsupport a case or carton 12 that holds cylindrical containers 11 orother rollable containers. The preferred use is with end opening casesor cartons that hold beverage cans or similar containers.

Details of The Preferred Container and Carton With Which the Tray isUsed

A preferred use of tray 10 is with exemplary containers 11 and an endopening carton 12. The preferred end opening carton 12 can contain tworows of six containers each. The containers may be provided in thecarton in a hexagonal close pack relationship or this relationship maybe assumed by the containers after opening the carton and removing oneor more containers therefrom. This type of carton with enclosedcontainers is sometimes referred to as a “2×6” carton configuration. Theupper row is positioned rearwardly relative to the end opening. Thebottom row is positioned against the front of the carton. Other cartonconfigurations may also be suitable for use with the novel tray 10according to this invention.

In a typical commercially used configuration the exemplary carton ismade from heavy paper or paperboard. Carton 12 includes a front wall 12a, a rear wall 12 b, a top wall 12 c, a bottom wall 12 d and side walls12 e. Carton 12 may sometimes also be provided with a tear away closure13 that includes part of the front end wall 12 a. The removable closure13 may also have portions which extend along side walls 12 e. Furtherthe removable closure may also extend along a portion of the carton topwall 12 c. The closure 13 can be removed from the carton 12, leaving acontainer discharge or discharge opening O. In some cartonconfigurations there may be a stop wall 12 f that extends partiallyupward from the bottom wall 12 d. When a stop wall is provided, the stopwall 12 f has a top edge T which is at a height G from the bottom of thecarton. The height G may be approximately the radius of a container 11.

The provision of a stop wall 12 f is intended to prevent containers fromrolling out the discharge O. Unfortunately, the stop wall is sometimesunable to sustain the force of the containers which are arranged behindthe stop wall within the interior of the carton 12.

Still further, the exemplary carton 12 used with tray 10 may include awidth dimension W, a height dimension H, and a length dimension L. Thedimensions and carton or container configurations can vary and thecurrent apparatus 10 may be constructed with complimentary dimensions toaccommodate a variety of carton sizes and configurations.

Tray Apparatus

Tray apparatus 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-6 in a preferred form. Theapparatus may be made to support a beverage carton 12 in such a mannerthat containers within the carton 12 will roll in a forward direction asby an inclined plane defined by the apparatus.

It is intended that the apparatus 10 be capable of supporting such acarton in a refrigerator (FIG. 4) between adjacent shelves 15, 16 insuch a manner that included beverage or similar containers 11 can besupported within the carton or case originally purchased, and be made toroll or migrate forwardly toward the discharge opening O whether suchopening be pre-formed as illustrated, or formed by the user.

As shown, the preferred apparatus 10 includes an elongated tray body 20that can be formed of a variety of materials by a variety of techniques.In one preferred form the tray can be formed of transparent plasticmaterial. The selected material is preferably impervious to water andthe typical beverages. A preferred material is PETG (glycolisedpolyester) if the apparatus is being formed using vacuum forming ofsheet plastic feedstock material. If the apparatus is to be formed byinjection molding of plastic, then HDPE (high density polyethylene) ispreferred. Although these materials are currently preferred, alternativematerials may subsequently become preferred. Alternative materials suchas other plastics or formable metals may also be used.

The body of the tray may be formed using a variety of suitable methods.For example, the tray body may be formed by vacuum thermal forming of aplastic sheet material, molding, other thermal forming techniques; orcasting, stamping or fabrication, if metal materials are used. Theforming technique used will provide a tray apparatus having the desiredfeatures, such as the construction shown for the preferred configurationillustrated and described herein. In currently preferred configurationsthe forming technique is used to provide an integrated trayconstruction. This is most advantageously done using a singular materialof construction which is vacuum formed at above room temperature intothe tray structure shown having the features described and illustratedherein. It is also possible for the tray body 20 to be formed ofdiscrete parts, using the same or different materials for each part.This may be accomplished using different appropriate forming techniquesfor each component. More particularly, the tray body may be formed ofone material to provide a leak proof tray body construction and theinclined ramp structure may be formed of another material in a mannerdiscrete from the tray body.

In the illustrated embodiments, the elongated tray body 20 is formedwith a bottom wall 21 and upwardly extending marginal walls 22. Thebottom wall and marginal walls are joined to provide a leak proof trayinterior. The marginal walls form a dam about the bottom wall serving toretain liquids which may collect from container leakage, other leakagewithin a refrigerator or other storage location, or condensation thatcondenses from moisture in the air and condenses out upon thecontainers. The leak proof construction is advantageously provided byintegral formation of the bottom wall and marginal walls which extendupwardly therefrom, such as in the preferred upstanding, even morepreferably vertical orientations. It is also possible for the walls 22to be separate components from and mechanically or otherwise attached tothe bottom wall 21 to form a leak proof tray body.

The marginal walls 22 can be made to terminate along peripheral topedges 26 at a height dimension B (FIG. 1) from the bottom wall 21 thatis less than the height dimension H (FIG. 2) of a beverage carton 12. Insuch configuration, the tray is upwardly open and a carton 12 receivedby the apparatus will project upwardly and above the peripheral topedges of the marginal walls, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

Overall height of the combined carton 12 and apparatus 10 is minimizedby keeping the tray height sufficiently low. The resulting compactconfiguration enables reception of the resulting combination withinconventional refrigerators 14, between elevationally adjacent shelves15, 16 as illustrated by FIG. 4.

The bottom and marginal walls 21, 22 can be made to define an upwardlyopen beverage carton receiving receptacle 28 that can be made to becomplimentary to the carton 12 in order to receive the beverage cartonwithin the confines of the walls. Thus, the marginal walls 22 can bemade to compliment the sides and ends of the carton. In one preferredconstruction the marginal walls and bottom wall are joined by a radius.This is particularly applicable to embodiments formed by vacuum formingof thermoplastic materials because the shape is more easily filled byapplication of the vacuum to the thermoplastic sheet being used.

The marginal walls shown in the illustrated embodiment include a forwardend wall 23, and a rearward end wall 24. The front and rear walls arejoined by longitudinal side walls 25. The resulting construction ispreferably shaped to be complimentary to a carton 12 being usedtherewith. It thus forms a receptacle 28 into which a lower portion ofcarton is received. In the illustrated example, the walls 23, 24 and 25are joined together in a continuous perimeter, with continuous topperipheral edges 26.

In the illustrated embodiments, the top edges 26 of the marginal wallsall lie in a common plane. This may be done so that the plane issubstantially parallel to the bottom wall 21. Although the illustratededge-to-base parallel relationship is advantageous to provide a visuallylevel appearance, it is alternatively possible that a differentrelationship could be used. For example, differing height walls, orcoplanar wall edges that are not in a parallel relationship with thebottom wall could alternatively be used.

The Carton Support

In exemplary embodiments, the tray apparatus is provided with a supportor rest upon which the carton is supported or rests. The bottom of thecart rests or is supported upon a support surface 30 which can beprovided in or on the tray 20. The support surface is preferably belowthe peripheral top edges 26 of the marginal walls so that upwardportions of the marginal walls provide lateral restraint to the carton.This is advantageous in preventing the carton from shifting duringmovement, such as when moved between a kitchen counter and arefrigerator shelf, or vice versa.

The carton support is also positioned or constructed so that the supportsurface 30 is above the bottom wall 21. Configurations of the surface 30can be formed integrally with the bottom wall 21 and marginal walls 22.Alternatively, the surface 30 can be formed separately as an insert orattachment to the tray.

The support and contacting support surface 30 is preferably configuredto receive and support a carton 12 at an inclined angle with respect tothe bottom wall 21. In exemplary forms, the support surface 30 extendsfrom a high end adjacent to the rearward end wall 24 toward a low end 32that is adjacent to the front end wall 23. The inclined support surfaceis preferably maintained at a position above the inside of bottom wall40 at the forward end wall 23. In the configuration shown, the supportis constructed so that the support surface 30 inclines longitudinally.As shown, the support surface extends longitudinally for substantiallythe length of the carton. In alternative configurations (notillustrated) the support surface can be made to extend only part wayalong the length of the tray body 20, as long as sufficient area isprovided for stable support of a carton 12.

In one example, an incline height E (FIG. 1) of the support surface 30at the high end is under 2 inches, more preferably about 1 inch.Dimensions in this range allow for the overall height of the combinedcarton 12 and apparatus 10 to be conveniently compatible with spacing S(FIG. 4) between elevationally adjacent refrigerator shelves 15, 16. Asshown, the height of the support surface and length of the supportsurface define the degree of inclination. The degree of inclination ispreferably constant along the length of the support to accommodate andcomplement the substantially planar bottom surface of the carton whichis placed in a resting position thereon. The length C of tray 20 issubstantially controlled by the corresponding length dimension L (FIG.2) of the carton 12 to be received with compensation for the thicknessesof the front and rear end marginal walls and any desired clearance.

In one form the tray is provided in a length and width which is slightlygreater is than the length and width of the carton to provide a loosefitting relationship that allows easy installation and removal. Theheight B of the marginal walls is variable but is most preferably madeso that the height of the front end wall 23 that extends above thesupport surface 30 within the interior of the tray is approximately theheight of the radius of a container 11 (D/2, see FIG. 3) so that thecontainer rolls against the front wall 23 and abuts the front wall nearthe forward extremity of the bottom row front container. For manybeverage cans, the height of the front end wall B may be madeappropriately under 2 inches and still provide sufficient degree ofinclination so that containers 11 move due to gravitational migration.In the most preferred implementations of the invention, the inclinationof the support surface is sufficient to encourage containers within thecarton to migrate by rolling toward the forward end wall 23 and thecarton discharge O (FIG. 6).

Support Surface and Forward End Wall Relation

As suggested above, the support surface 30 can extend along an inclinedplane to intersect the forward end wall 23. This intersection ispreferably slightly above the bottom interior surface of the tray body.Thus, a carton 12 that is placed within the beverage carton receptacle28 will have a tendency to slide or migrate by gravity toward theforward end wall 23. The inside of the forward end wall 23 can thusbecome an abutment against which the carton container will stop andrest. If the carton is provided with a upstanding segment 12 f, then theforward end wall 23 can thus provide support or restraint againstforward lateral forces developed upon the carton stop segment to therebybrace or reinforce the carton stop against collapse.

In illustrated examples, the top peripheral edge 26 at the forward wall23 is configured to be elevationally below the top edge T (FIG. 2) ofthe upstanding carton stop 12 f. The height of edge T of the carton isselected by the packaging or manufacturing company, and may vary fromone manufacturer to another. By configuring the tray top edge height Bto be under the edge height T, structural restraint can be providedwithout interfering with the user's capability to remove the tear awayclosure 13 from the carton when installed on the tray. Such removal ofthe closure in some instances causes tearing and/or destruction of thecarton stop 12 f. With the novel construction shown, the front end wall23 also serves to help prevent destruction of the carton stop segment 12f when the carton is placed into the tray before removal of closure 13.

A forward end wall height B can be selected in relation also to thecontainer diameter D (FIG. 3). An exemplary abutment wall height abovethe support surface at the forward end wall is advantageously slightlyunder the radius of container 11, or half of the container diameter.Such an abutment wall height can be beneficial in allowing forsufficient wall height to brace the carton stop wall 12 f, and act tocontact the containers should the carton stop wall 12 f be damaged ormissing. Thus the abutment acts as a restraint or as a contacting stopto prevent the containers 11 from rolling free of the tray.

Exemplary Support Structure

As indicated above, the support and associated support surface 30 can beprovided in various forms or dimensions. In the illustrated example, thesupport surface can be formed to include at least one longitudinal partor member 33. The one or more longitudinal part or parts mayadvantageously spans the interior length of the tray body. This isdesirable to maintain the ramp in a continuous construction that allowsfor smooth rolling of the containers 11. As shown, the longitudinalsupport member is provided at a location central to the two opposingside walls 25. Plural longitudinal members in lieu of longitudinalmember 33 may alternatively be used.

The support may also advantageously include at least one, and preferablyplural, transverse support members 39. As shown, the tray 10 is providedwith three pair of transverse members that extend across transversewidth A (FIG. 1) of the tray body 20. The transverse members are in theform of reinforcing ribs 38, intersecting with the longitudinal part 33at locations along the tray length C. The rib parts have top surfaces 39can be made integral and coplanar, coincidental with or defining theangle of inclination of the support surface 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 and elsewhere, the ribs 38 and longitudinalpart 33 of support surface 30 can be made integral with the remainder ofthe tray body. As such, the ribs and longitudinal part can beeffectively used as structural reinforcement of the tray body.Alternatively, these parts can be made separately and attached to thetray in a manner to provide similar rigidity.

Catch Basin

In exemplary forms of the present apparatus 10, the bottom wall 21 andmarginal walls 22 further define a catch basin 36. The support surface30 is located above the bottom wall and below the dam formed by themarginal walls. The catch basin 36 is useful where the tray body 20 ismade impervious to liquids to catch spilled or condensed liquids and tohold such liquids within the confines of the tray and below the bottomof the carton 12. This advantageously prevents any liquids from wettingthe carton and prevents the associated mess, inconvenience and loss ofstructural integrity that occurs when a carton is in contact with aliquid within a refrigerator or elsewhere.

In configurations in which the above described central longitudinal part33 and intersecting ribs 38 are provided, one or more collection wellsare formed. In the version shown, the support structure forms a gridwork or array of collecting wells 40 for reception of liquids therein.The individual wells can provide separate containment of spills. Smallerindividual volumes of spilled liquid in a plurality of segregated wells40 reduce the risks of sloshing and spilling the liquids as compared tothe same volume of liquid held as a single mass.

The Finger or Hand Hold

Preferred forms of the apparatuses according to the invention mayinclude one or more finger or hand holds. As shown, apparatus 10 may bemade to include a finger or hand hold 27 which provides a grippingsurface or surfaces. The gripping surfaces may be provided under a gripextension forming part of the tray body. The hand hold and associatedgripping surface can be used to provide more secure handling of the traybody and a carton of containers supported thereon. In the form of theinvention illustrated by FIG. 6, the exemplary finger or hand gripsurface 27 can be formed integrally with the tray body adjacent therearward end wall 24. The upward interior surface 31 of the hand hold 27also advantageously serves as a rearward ledge forming part of theinclined ramp support surface.

Space is provided between the elevation of the bottom wall 21 andgripping surface so that convenient access is provided when extendingthe fingers or hand under the is hand hold ledge. This is particularlyadvantageous when reaching toward the back of a refrigerator shelf togain a hold for removal of the tray and any supported carton andcontainers. As illustrated, the grip surface is disposed within thelength dimension of the tray body and as such, will not take up addedspace or increase the size of the footprint of the apparatus in arefrigerator or elsewhere.

Operation

Operation of the present apparatus 20 can be preceded by securing acarton of containers 12 and initially removing the tear away closure 13.While this can be done separately from the apparatus 10, it isadvantageous to first place the carton 11 within the describedreceptacle 28, so the forward end wall 23 can act as a guide in theremoval step, and reinforce the carton stop wall 12 f against tearing orcollapse as the closure 13 is removed. The closure may also be torn awayat the top of the carton and the abutment used as a tear line againstwhich the closure is removed along the bottom edge of the removableclosure 13. The remainder of the marginal walls 22 also function at thistime to hold the carton securely in position upon the inclined rampsupport.

Once the carton 12 is placed within the apparatus 10, and the closure 13is removed, the forward containers 11 become accessible and can bemanually removed as desired. As one container is removed, thoseremaining in the carton 12 will shift, roll or otherwise migrate towardthe discharge O due to gravity and the inclined plane of the supportsurface 30. This action will continue until the last container 11 isremoved, at which time the tray and empty carton can be removed from arefrigerator or other dispensing position at which the apparatus hasbeen used. If it is desired to place the apparatus 10 and carton 12within a refrigerator, the user can simply grasp the tray body at theforward end and slide the combined assembly outwardly. The assembly canthen be lifted and relocated. The relocation is facilitated by thefinger grip 27.

Should a spill occur within the carton, the spilled liquid will draindownwardly and collect in the catch basin 36, or more particularly, inone or more of the exemplary beverage collection wells 40. The spillthus contained can be easily dealt with simply by lifting the tray bodyand pouring the spilled liquid into a sink or other receptacle. Theindividual wells 40 can act during transport of the apparatus as bafflesagainst spillage, thereby avoiding spillage from the tray.

Interpretation Note

The invention has been described in language directed to the currentembodiments shown and described with regard to various structural andmethodological features. The scope of protection as defined by theclaims is not intended to be necessarily limited to the specificfeatures shown and described. Other forms and equivalents forimplementing the inventions can be made without departing from the scopeof the concepts properly protected hereby.

1. An apparatus forming an upwardly open container carton tray,comprising: a bottom wall which is capable of holding liquids; marginalwalls connected to the bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom toform a perimeter dam which retains liquids within a tray interior, saidmarginal walls being sufficiently low to form an upwardly openreceptacle into which a container carton having plural rollablecontainers may be rested by setting the container carton upon the cartontray; an abutment along one of said marginal walls; at least oneinclined support within the tray interior upon which the containercarton rests at an inclined angle, said inclined support serving toincline and gravitate rollable containers within the container cartontoward said abutment; at least one recessed well formed within the trayinterior for collecting liquids therein below said inclined support tomaintain the container carton dry above any collected liquids held insaid at least one recessed well.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1wherein the inclined support comprises: at least one longitudinalsupport member; at least one transverse rib support member which extendstransversely relative to the at least one longitudinal support member.3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the bottom wall, marginalwalls and inclined support are integrally formed.
 4. An apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the bottom wall, marginal walls andinclined support are integrally formed by a vacuum forming process. 5.An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the inclined supportcomprises: at least one longitudinal support member; at least onetransverse rib support member which extends transversely relative to theat least one longitudinal support member; and, wherein the bottom wall,marginal walls and inclined support are integrally formed by a vacuumforming process.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1 and furthercomprising at least one hold for facilitating handling of the apparatus.7. An apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising at least onehand hold formed at the rear of the apparatus for facilitating handlingof the apparatus.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1 and furthercomprising at least one hand hold formed at the rear of the apparatusfor facilitating handling of the apparatus, said hand hold having anupper surface forming part of said at least one inclined support.
 9. Anapparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one recessed wellcomprises a plurality of recessed wells.
 10. An apparatus formed tosupport a beverage carton, comprising: an elongated tray body formed bya bottom wall and marginal walls that extend upwardly from the bottomwall; wherein the marginal walls terminate along peripheral top edges;wherein the bottom and marginal walls define an upwardly open beveragecarton receiving receptacle that is configured to receive the beveragecarton with a portion of the beverage carton exposed above theperipheral top edges; a support surface below the peripheral top edgesand above the bottom wall, and formed to receive and support a carton atan inclined angle with respect to the bottom wall; wherein the bottomand marginal walls further define a catch basin below at least a portionof the support surface.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10 whereinthe support surface is formed as an integral part of the bottom wall.12. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the catch basin iscomprised of a plurality of individual beverage receiving wells formedalong the bottom wall and between the marginal walls.
 13. An apparatusaccording to claim 10 wherein the peripheral top edges are continuousand lie in a plane that is substantially parallel to the bottom wall.14. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the marginal wallsinclude opposed forward and rearward end walls and further comprising afinger grip surface formed in the tray body adjacent the rearward endwall.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the support surfaceincludes reinforcing ribs disposed within the beverage carton receivingreceptacle and wherein the reinforcing ribs include top rib surfacesthat are coplanar and inclined with respect to the bottom wall.
 16. Anapparatus according to claim 10 wherein the peripheral top edges aresubstantially coplanar.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 10 whereinthe support surface includes reinforcing ribs within the beverage cartonreceiving receptacle with top rib surfaces that are coplanar, andwherein the peripheral top edges are at least substantially coplanar andparallel to the bottom wall.
 18. An apparatus forming a dispenser forreception between adjacent elevationally spaced shelves of arefrigerator and supporting a carton containing at least partiallycylindrical beverage containers that are capable of rolling on aninclined surface, and wherein the carton includes a height dimension anda tear away closure that is removable to expose a container dischargeand a container stop wall below the container discharge, the apparatuscomprising: an elongated tray body formed by a bottom wall and marginalwalls that include a front wall with a top edge spaced above the bottomwall; wherein the marginal walls define an upwardly open beverage cartonreceiving receptacle that is configured to receive and support thebeverage carton with the tear away closure removed and with thecontainer discharge exposed upwardly adjacent to the top edge of thefront wall and with the front wall abutting with and bracing thecontainer stop wall against collapse; and a support surface below theperipheral top edges, configured to receive and support the cartonwithin the space between shelves of a refrigerator and at an inclinedangle with respect to the bottom wall to induce rolling motion ofcontainers within the carton toward the forward wall.
 19. An apparatusaccording to claim 18 further comprising a beverage receiving catchbasin between the bottom wall and marginal walls.
 20. An apparatusaccording to claim 18 wherein the support surface is comprised of atleast one longitudinal part and at least one rib intersecting with thelongitudinal part and wherein the at least one longitudinal part andsaid at least one rib define a support surface which lies along aninclined support plane above the bottom wall.